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Importance of Keywords in Your LinkedIn Profile

Submitted by Amanda Dumsch April 4, 2022

You have probably heard about applicant tracking systems for resumes and cover letters when applying for jobs online. When applying for jobs online, it is of the utmost importance to use as many keywords from the job description to get through any computer filters. Well, the same holds true for LinkedIn. LinkedIn can be a goldmine for new opportunities. To maximize your number of options it is really important that you add keywords to your profile for the job YOU WANT not the job you have right now. This is especially true for career pivoters who might be changing directions.

How can you do this?

Your “About” (formerly Summary) section on LinkedIn is a great way to add in a ton of information. Most people fall very short of the 2,000 character limit within this section, which is unfortunate because it is often one of the first sections people read and it tends to be the most scannable by recruiters.  Within this section, you can include a list of skills as a running list. Example: Skills/Proficiencies: MATLAB, Linux, Database Administration, etc.

You can also add in a section or a few lines detailing areas of interest: Program Management, Consulting, Science Policy, etc. It is also helpful to take a look at different industries and see what keywords/skill sets are important to them. You can use this resource from Resume Worded in order to scan by career path about the most marketable skills for you to highlight.

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